The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-13
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NEGRO EPISC0PALIANS.
THE OLD BONE OF CONTENTION UP
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Committee Appointed by the Dele
gates Who Withdrew From the
Convention a Couple of Months Ago
Makes IT'S Report-A Clear Statements
of Their Action and Feeling.
CHARLESTON, July 12--The committee
appointed by the clerical and lay delegates
who withdrew from the Diocesan Episcopal
Convention in Charleston last May have
completed their statement of the causes
which led to the withdrawal. 1t is signed
by ex-Secretary G. S. Memminger, Edward
McCrady, w StJ. Jervey, w. G. Bennett
and G. G. r. Drayton, and will make PAM
phlet of about sixty pages, The COMMITTEES
begin by sketching the history of the di-
viding question during the last twelve years,
and contend that it shows that the position
| of the laity with regard to the admission of
colored clergymen to diocesan conventions
differs from that of many of the clergy, not
in principle, but in expediency. In 1885 the
question took the shape of an assertion of
the right of all clergymen ON the Bishops
list TO seats in the convention, independent
of the action of that body and the virtue OF
the clergyman's office.
THE QUESTION INVOLVED.
The subject was avoided next year, but
| came up in the convention last May, not as
matter of principle only, but as involving
the question of the admission of colored
clergymen to church councils. The Bishop
| having ruled--notwithstanding the refusal
| of the convention to confirm the report of
| the committee on the clergy lst-that the
convention was duly organized for business,
aud having ignored the refusal of the con-
vention TO sustain his ruling, the dissidents
| had no choice but TO submit, protest, resort
to parliamentary expedients, or withdraw
with dignity. They accordingly withdrew
| from the convention. 1t is recognized by
| the committee, however, that the point to
be determined is whether the admission of
colored clergymen to the convention was
| contemplated i'll the constitution of tho
| church.
| A CHURCH OF A RACE.
They contend that it was not, and thai
this lis the first attempt in the history Of
| the church TO make the church other than a.
national church-that is a church of a
race.n They believe the seating of colored
| clergymen in the convention TO be not only
| unconstitutional but dangerous; and in this
relation recall the resolution of Prentiss in
1878, asserting tho right of exclusion; the
resolutions of the standing committee on the
| Saltus case in 1876, recognizing the differen-
| ces of the two races brought together in the
diocese and the report of the Sewanee con-
! ference i'll favor of missionary organization
beeause of the popularity of the relations
| between the two races. IL is argued that
there is no danger whatever to any of the
social barriers between the races, If the COLI
| oPed people be taken into the councils and
churches as equals OF the whites, but the
committee are confident that the actual and
practical result would he to force negro so-
cial equality upon the people.
THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH.
The duty and responsibility of the church
| in the Southern States, In regard to the col-
| ored people is fully recognized, but there Is
no call ''to take them into our councils" In
conclusion the committee give their reasons
| for holding that there was no legal convene
| ton in 1887 They claim that the election
| of the standing committee, and the at
| tempted alteration in the constitution were
| "void and of no effect even if had the lille.
| gality Of the Bishops ruling not otherwise
| vitiated its proceedings" The Importance
| of tho congregations represented by the dis
| sidents who withdrew from the convention
Is shown in an unmistakable way. Those
| who withdrew represented more than half
| of all the persons connected with the church
and more than half of all the communicates.
PROFITABLE PARISHES.
They represented also parishes which pay
| nearly two-thirds of the convention ex-
penses, more than two-thirds of the Bishops
| fund, and nearly thirds Of the contribu-
| tons to the missions committee, and that in
withdrawing from the convention they did
not Withdraw from the church. ills for the
laity to determine what their future course
shall be- They will not impair their con-
nection with the church by
withdrawing from union with the
convention They can If they choose
send deputies with instructions TO abandon
the position which has been taken, and in
admitting the colored element to the church
councils 1'brave the dangers" from which
| the dissidents shrink But if the laity desire
that the right to pass upon the clergy list
shall be abandoned, they must choose to
represent them other deputies than those
who withdrew from the convention of 1887.